You don’t need to understand your vehicle’s engine to understand that you need to have it checked out. Your engine will usually start giving you signs that it may not be working perfectly, and listening to these signs could save you thousands in repair costs. It can be scary to hear the words ‘engine repair’; but the quicker you bring your car in, the less time the problem has to deteriorate more of your engine. In this circumstance leaving the problem doesn’t solve it; it just makes it grow in repair time and costs. The following warning signs should never be ignored and require a trip to a trusted technician in your area.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
I know that this should be obvious, but it does not always create a sense of urgency. Sometimes a faulty gas cap can cause this light; but it could be a misfire, faulty plugs or increasingly costly issues. One study conducted by reviews.com finds that only 36.1% of people take their cars into their mechanic within the first week of the check engine light’s appearance. This could cause serious issues in the long run.
EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE
Did you know your exhaust smoke could give you a color coded list of issues? The ASE Certification Practice test by freestudyguides.com identifies blue gray smoke, white gray smoke and black smoke as possible indicators for separate issues. Blue/ gray exhaust smoke is a marker for burning oil in the combustion chamber. White/ gray smoke is generally caused by coolant burning inside the engine’s combustion chamber and black exhaust is shown to indicate a rich fuel condition. All of these issues will come from underlying problems that can be addressed and fixed by a certified technician.
LACK OF POWER
This one can be tricky because of how many underlying issues can cause your cars pick up to be underwhelming. Engine repair is just a stop on this list but can be one of the more important diagnoses in relation to slower pick-up speeds. Rough idles and long warm up times coupled with dawdling pick- up speeds is a strong indicator of engine issues.
If you notice any of these issues occurring while driving your car, truck or SUV; your best bet is to bring it in and have a trusted technician look at it.
